by Mosi Reeves

XXL's Freshman Class of 2013

by Mosi Reeves
|
May 9, 2013

XXL magazine's annual Freshman Class issue is a bellwether of mainstream rap trends. The inaugural 2007-2008 class didn't make much noise, as it was weighted down by street rappers with little crossover appeal, such as Saigon, Papoose and Crooked I. The franchise didn't really become popular until the following year, with a group that included future stars Kid Cudi, B.o.B, Wale and Curren$y. Since then, the rap industry has dissected, celebrated and criticized the annual list for selections that range from uncannily spot-on (Macklemore, then mostly known among backpacker circles, made the 2012 list) to woefully off the mark (see Fred the Godson from the 2011 list). Alumni include Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole and Future. The most egregious omission may be Drake, who wasn't included in the 2008-2009 class, and has since become the most successful new artist of the past five years.